Safety Rules to Follow When Operating a Car With Airbags

Vehicle airbags save lives every day, and thousands have been saved since the federal government required equipping all new passenger cars with airbags in 1998. Following a few simple safety rules decreases the risk of crash injury from airbags.

Seating Position

• Moving the driver and passenger seats as far rearward as possible, while still maintaining control of the vehicle, reduces the chances of airbag deployment injury. Being too close to an airbag can cause serious injury or death.

Children

• Placing children 12 years and younger in the back seat greatly minimizes the risk of serious injury from airbag deployment during an accident. Never place infants or toddlers in car seats in the front passenger seat. If you are placing an infant or child seat in the front seat of a truck with no back seat, be sure you're able to turn off the passenger airbag or that it has the technology to turn itself off by weight restrictions. If you cannot turn off the airbag, be sure to use a forward-facing child seat, and move the seat as far back as possible.

Seat Belts

• Wearing vehicle lap and shoulder restraints properly is very important to the safety of the occupants in an accident. Airbags are supplemental restraints and only work properly if all passengers are wearing seat belts.

On/Off Switches

• Installing on/off airbag switches is permitted if there is a medical condition, inability to move the seat to allow the driver at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, or where a child younger than 12 must ride in the front.

Deployment

• Installing used or salvaged air bags after a deployment is not recommended. The functionality of used airbags cannot be guaranteed.